Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for driving a piezoelectric actuator

US5130598A · kind A · utility

60Cited by
20References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 14, 1990
Grant dateJul 14, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 14, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10N30/802
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for controllably connecting and disconnecting a piezoelectric actuator to and from an energy source to effect the displacement of a piezoelectric actuator for a fuel injector. Precise control of the timing and duration of the piezoelectric actuator is necessary to ensure that a proper quantity of fuel is delivered to each cylinder of an internal combustion engine. A charging and discharging means monitors the voltage level of the piezoelectric actuator, and the charging and discharging current of the piezoelectric actuator. Further, a smoothing means aids in leveling the charging and discharging current to better approximate a constant current to control the piezoelectric actuator providing a precise quantity of fuel to be delivered.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.